Breezy Wednesday

Hello

A rather breezy day and with much cloud which was a shame but still with underlying summer warmth out of the wind.

Yesterday afternoon and Bill Draper discovered a Silver-washed Fritillary in a spinney on the Lamport Estate, a site first for this fairly recent colonist in the county. Also yesterday and Angus saw and photographed a Black Hairstreak in Fermyn Wood as well as noting eighteen other species of butterfly.

This morning at Pitsford Reservoir there were two Great White Egrets in the Scaldwell Bay plus a Green Sandpiper and a Redshank. An Osprey was up by the dam, carrying a fish off towards Brixworth. Spotted Flycatchers were noted in villages in Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton. Birds at Thrapston Pits today included an eclipse drake Garganey on the Titchmarsh reserve plus a Redshank and nineteen Little Egrets.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Little Ringed Plover first thing, three Common Sandpipers, two Little Egrets, a Wigeon, a Cuckoo and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Kingfishers were along the Brampton Brook below Hanging Houghton this morning and a Barn Owl was hunting there this evening.

Birds visible from the old railway line at Summer Leys LNR included a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper and a Dunlin. Access via the car park and Mary's lake was cordoned off due to a police incident.

Kelmarsh Hall this evening was good for two Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, a brood of Gadwall and a family of Spotted Flycatchers, with Scarlet Tiger moth and Purple Hairstreak butterflies being spotted too.

Regards

Neil M

Thick-headed Fly
Sicus ferrugineus.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Great White Egret.

Great Crested Grebe
shielding chicks.

Images all courtesy of
Robin Gossage.